Say Goodbye to Messy Dresser Drawers!

One thing in our bedroom that always seems to get unorganized is our dresser drawers. UGH! I just hate dressers, but we need them. If we didn't have them where would our socks and under garments go?! James is PRO-Dresser and I am 99% ANTI-Dresser!

In our bedroom we only have one dresser, and our dresser only has three drawers. My sock, James' socks, and James' boxers. Sweet and Simple.

I folded all of my socks in half for ankle socks and in thirds for longer socks.

Then filled the drawer by standing them up.

I have my sock drawer sorted by thick and fuzzy socks on the left side of the drawer (2 rows) then I have 2 rows of long (tall) socks, then the last 3 rows (far right) are ankle socks. This was technique is not only good for saving space, but also for pushing me to throw some socks away. 

No match? THROW IT AWAY! Teeny Tiny hole?! THROW IT AWAY! 

So, as I just said.. I organized my sock drawer and I got rid of some socks that I just really didn't need anymore. SCORE!

 

 

For James' sock drawer, I did the very same thing folding wise.

However, guys socks are different and his are much bigger than mine, so they take up more room! The far left side are all of his ankle socks (folded in half and standing up) and then because his long socks are A LOT longer than mine, I laid the matching sets on top of one another. (Only folded in half instead of thirds)

Now for James' boxers... 

Hot Dog. Hot Dog. Hamburger.

Does anyone remember that folding rule from elementary school?!

Here are some sample pictures I just found on Google. haha!

Hot Dog                                     Hamburger

                        

I folded each one in half hot dog style, then in half again (hot dog style) then I folded them once Hamburger style. I filled the drawer by stacking them standing up just like I did for our sock drawers.I sorted his boxers by matching the types of fabric together (soft cotton, silk, stiff cotton, flannel)

 Our dresser drawers are now 100% organized and lookin' good! 

Now the real challenge is to see how long they stay organized and lookin' good!

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!

Grout Cleaner

 

 

Grout Cleaner Recipe

8 cups water

1/2 cup baking soda

1/3 cup lemon juice

1/4 cup vinegar

 

and 1 magic eraser for those few extra stubborn spots!

 

I HATE having white grout in our kitchen.

But that's how it was when we bought this house, and its the only floor in the house that we didn't change. (I really wish we did, its such a dirt trap!) I cant stand how you can easy see even one little speck of dirt on it. It just shows everything so easily!

 

I scrub the grout about once a month, sometimes more. I have never really found a decent recipe until this one. I found it online somewhere a while back and wrote it down. and I added the magic eraser. :)

 

I mixed all the ingredients in a gallon bucket, with a mop, and slathered the entire floor with it, I then went upstairs and cleaned for about 2 hours, when I came back down, the floor was still wet so I took my mop and got to scrubbing! Like I said above, for some of the tough spots I used a kitchen magic eraser. Above is a before and after picture. I know it is not perfectly spotless white, however, I am happy with how it turned out! I think I am going to stick with this grout cleaning recipe for a little while.

 

Anyone have any good grout cleaning recipes?

Scent your entire home

 Our house doesn't smell "bad" but with a dog and James working where he does, sometimes the house just doesn't smell "fresh"..... for a quick and AMAZING fix, I poured a small amount of vanilla extract into a coffee mug, and put it in the oven at 200 for a few hours. I clean the house, read, do anything I want or need to do while its in there. (of course I only do it when I am going to be home for a while) The vanilla makes the ENTIRE house smell so nice and cozy. What I love about the vanilla scent is that it is never too overpowering. Also, it smells good all year round, its not to cozy for the summer months, and its extra cozy on a cold fall day like today.

 

I am thinking of trying other oils and scents as well, I would love to do something with cinnamon for the winter time... we will see how that goes.

 

 

(please ignore the dirty oven)

HOME LIFE: 4 Day Cleaning Challenge

This plan goes along with my spring cleaning checklist... I was going to try to get my entire Spring Cleaning Checklist done in just 1 day ... but then I realized that I really need to take my time to make sure that every task gets done correctly + successfully... so I made up this quick 4 day plan that I am going to start on Thursday (since its my last day of school for a few weeks...) I picked 4 days because it is still a quick time to get everything done, + it will push me, but at the same time it gives me time to take my time.

Thursday: 

• Kitchen 
• Dining Room 
• Living Room 
• Laundry Room

Friday: 

• Downstairs Bathroom 
• Pantry 
• Foyer 
• Hallway + Stairs  
• Upstairs Bathroom

Saturday: 

• Office  
• Bedroom 

Sunday: 

• Cars 
• Outside 
• QUICK HOUSE BLOW-OVER

I can't wait to get home from school on Thursday + get started!! I am growing impatient.. I can't wait for our house to be sparkling! 

Get motivated + Get started!

DIY: tile + grout cleaner

 While cleaning this past weekend, I also made some homemade cleaning products! I used them on floors, on the appliances, the toilets, sinks and what I am most proud to show off... the kitchen tile grout!!

 

Check out this amazing before + after!

 

The ingredients I used for this task are:

- 7 cups of hot water (out of the tap, not microwaved or anything)

- 1/4 lemon juice

- 1/3 cup baking soda

- 1/2 cup vinegar

 

I mixed all of the ingredients together in a bowl, + then just dipped my scrub brush in the bowl + scrubbed the floor. I went over the floor with the homemade solution twice, then while the floor was still soaking in the mixture, I took a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, + scrubbed the grout extra good. Even though the grout was a lot cleaner just from the homemade cleaner, I used the magic eraser just for an extra deep cleaning.

 

It was so easy + I personally think that it looks drastically better!!

 

 

xoxo -- Ray